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By: Just One More Book!!,
on 10/2/2007
Author: Carolyn Crimi
Illustrator: Lynn Munsinger
Published: 1999 Random House (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0440415322 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Scowls, howls and insults abound in this heartwarming story of friendship lost and the slow, solitary struggle to disarm, soften and befriend again.
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By: BookEnds, LLC,
on 9/21/2007
Salty Dogs
Jean M. Fogle
Publisher: Wiley
Pub Date: September 2007
Agent: Jacky Sach
(Click to Buy)
Author Web site: www.jeanmfogle.com
When Molly, my Jack Russell Terrier, was six months old, I took her to the beach. From her first step in the sand till the moment I dragged her away, it was apparent that the beach was heaven on earth to my terrier. Seeing her spontaneity and joy liberated me. As she dashed headlong in to the waves, I felt the stress of the day melt away and laughter tumble from my throat. Together we met many friends and no strangers. Glancing out to sea, I noticed a surfer getting ready to put his golden retriever on his surfboard. Thrusting Molly into the arms of a new friend, I grabbed my camera and ran. Wading out as deep as I dared, I started taking pictures. As I clicked away, the surfer positioned his dog on the board and pushed him into a wave. With a huge canine grin, the golden rode the wave till it folded over him and only a nose showed through the surf. Wading back to shore I knew I had some good shots. After a full day of romping, it was time to go. After she refused to leave, I finally picked up the squirming Molly and headed for the car.
When I got the slides back, they showed how much fun dogs and owners have at the beach and the idea for Salty Dogs, a photo book of dogs at the beach, was born.
Before Molly, I worked at our garden center and did some freelance garden writing and photography. Once she squirmed her way into my heart, she inspired me to become a full-time photographer/writer, specializing in dogs. While my work appeared in calendars, magazines, and other people’s books, I continued to work on getting the images I needed to do Salty Dogs.
Fall of 2003 I went to a conference where I was able to propose Salty Dogs to several publishers. The comments always were the same: great concept, too expensive to produce. I kept plugging away, determined that Salty Dogs would become a reality.
In December of 2006, I was doing some work for the Dummies books when I thought to ask my editor if they would be interested in seeing my book proposal for Salty Dogs. She put me in touch with another department and by February I had a contract in hand. When Salty Dogs was taken to the acquisitions meeting, one of the editors remembered seeing Salty Dogs at the conference.
Moral of the story, keep trying! A proposal that was too expensive 3 years ago is now a book!
By: Just One More Book!!,
on 9/20/2007
Author: Jessica Swaim (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Jill McElmurry (on JOMB)
Published: 2007 Candlewick Press (on JOMB)
ISBN: 076362330X Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Fast-paced, must-memorize rhyme, a pack of unruly pooches and a sprinkling of romance made this explosion of canine character a family favourite before the ink had time to dry.
Other books mentioned:
You can find more great dog books here.
Tags:childrens book, dogs, Jessica Swaim, Jill Mcelmurry, Podcast, review, The Hound from the Poundchildrens book, dogs, Jessica Swaim, Jill Mcelmurry, Podcast, review, The Hound from the Pound
By: BookEnds, LLC,
on 8/9/2007
Elizabeth Joy Arnold
Pieces of My Sister’s Life
Publisher: Bantam
Pub date: July 2007
Agent: Kim Lionetti
(Click to Buy)
Author Web site: www.ElizabethJoyArnold.com.
My debut novel tells the story of identical twin sisters, Kerry and Eve, whose childhood is upended when they learn that what they both want is a future only one of them can have. After an estrangement of thirteen years, Kerry returns to her childhood home to be with her ill sister and to confront Justin, the husband she thought would be hers, and Gillian, the niece who looks just like her—hoping to finally bring closure to the dark secrets and cruel betrayals that tore the sisters apart.
My publication story started like almost every writer’s, in that I suffered for years from not even being able to get agents to ask for material after I sent queries. Now somehow here I am, with a really nice deal from a big publisher, my book sitting on the lead spot in that publisher’s catalogue, a first print run number that absolutely blows my mind, newspaper interviews and print and radio ads coming up—absolutely a dream come true; I literally have to pinch myself every day, because it still doesn’t seem real to me.
So how did I get from there to here? I wish I had an easy answer to give you, but that would be acting like the herbal-supplement people who tell you they’ve got the secret to losing weight. Anyone who says they have a surefire way of getting you published is either trying to scam you or they’re a vanity publisher. I’d have to say it’s about 80% perseverance, 10% luck, and 10% “talent.” (I put quotes around talent, by the way, because although I guess there are some people who are innately talented, almost anyone can learn to write better. Talent comes primarily from hard work, I think.) So that means 90% of it is up to you.
Just a quick note on each of these:
Perseverance
People will tell you it’s nearly impossible to publish a first novel without prior publishing credits, but that’s obviously not true. In my case, I never stopped believing this was what I was meant to do, and so I kept papering my walls with rejection slips, writing new manuscripts and sending them out, and then filling another wall with rejections. I kept trying because I loved to write, not because I ever expected to get published; publication was just the cherry on top. I was happiest when I was immersed in the worlds I’d created, and so I never gave up. And eventually, people started getting interested. A few years ago, I actually had an editor at Soho Press send me an encouraging letter, along with my manuscript (he actually paid for postage) with editing marks all over it, which meant he’d read the whole thing. That little pat on the back was enough to keep me going for another few years worth of rejections.
“Talent”
I think part of the success of this novel is that I found the right story, one that my agent and publisher believe people will connect to. I learned how to write by writing daily, sometimes from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., to the point where my husband was starting to feel like a widower. And I learned by reading—I still read every spare minute, sometimes three books at a time, everything from Chekhov to Vampire novels, and I pay attention to what I like and don’t like, think of different choices I would’ve made in the writing, and what works and doesn’t work for me. (By the way, there’s very little in Chekhov that doesn’t work. . . .) For most people, this is where “talent” comes from. Not copying or emulating, of course, but learning with every book you read.
Luck
Well, this is the tricky one, because luck is mostly outside your control. But to some extent, you do make your own luck. Write the best book you can possibly write—Do rewrite after rewrite until you feel like the book is as good as it’s ever going to get. (I’ve probably written twenty versions of my second novel, and it hasn’t even gone through the editing process yet.) Do a lot of research before you decide who to query, and write a kick-ass query letter that’ll get their attention. I owe a ton to Kim, my agent, who showed so much enthusiasm for the book when she called to take me on, and I know that enthusiasm must’ve carried through to the editors she met with. So I was incredibly lucky to find the right agent, one who truly believed in my story, and just as lucky to find Caitlin, my editor, who also had so much excitement about the book that she got me excited all over again, and really pushed it to her publisher. But the luck wouldn’t have come without the hard work and perseverance.
It’s been a year and a half since I first got my acceptance from Bantam, and finally the book’s out there in the world. The book’s only just been published, and I’ve already gotten seven pieces of “fan mail,” from people who’ve bought the book. Getting those e-mails was the first time the whole thing actually began to feel real for me. The realization that people are now reading the story and meeting the characters that were alone in my head for months and months just blows me away. And that’s what made all the pain of rejection and the hard work (not to mention the carpal tunnel syndrome) worth it.
Best of luck in your own publishing adventures!
Feel free to ask Elizabeth questions in the comments. She'll drop in during the day to read and answer them.
By: Just One More Book!!,
on 8/7/2007
Author: Dianna Aston (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Sylvia Long (on JOMB)
Published: Chronicle Books (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0811844285 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Stunning in its sensational simplicity and resplendent with scientific details, this gorgeously illustrated and warmly worded masterpiece is a stirring introduction to the modest magnificence that is life.
Other books mentioned:
Posted on 7/24/2007
Author: Janet Lunn
Illustrator: Kim LaFave
Published: 1988 Groundwood Books
ISBN: 0888998457 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Folk art, flying fleece and fury contrast the carefree contentment of two oblivious farmers with the blatant anguish of their frustrated sheep in this hilarious example of the bliss of being understood.
By: Just One More Book!!,
on 6/21/2007
Author: Mo Willems (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Mo Willems
Published: 2007 Hyperion
ISBN: 1423102959 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Four friends, forty-four easy-to-read words and forty-seven phenomenally funny interactions empower even the earliest reader to provide satisfying read-aloud entertainment for the whole family.
We can’t help directing you to some of our other favourite books on the themes of pigs and flying:
Posted on 5/22/2007
Author: Betsy Hearne
Illustrator: Bethanne Andersen
Published: 2006 Greenwillow Press
ISBN: 0060799218 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Radiant with peace and perseverence, this beautiful string of family remembrances gently sips and savours the contributions of seven remarkably unremarkable women.
Read the story behind the story here.
Tags:Bethanne Andersen, Betsy Hearne, childrens book, Podcast, review, Seven Brave WomenBethanne Andersen, Betsy Hearne, childrens book, Podcast, review, Seven Brave Women
By: Just One More Book!!,
on 5/19/2007
In this episode, we play two Listener Submitted Reviews:
Many thanks to Sage and Bayla for participating in JOMB, to Karen and Gwen for leaving us audio comments and to those of you who have sent us feedback via email and have spread the JOMB word in your own circles. We really appreciate your support.
Listeners who submit reviews before May 30, 2007 will be entered in a draw to win an autographed copy of The Call to Shakabaz.
If you would like to share your thoughts on a favourite children’s book, please send your review as an MP3 file in email to [email protected], phone it in to our listener feedback line (206-350-6487), leave a two-minute MyChingo, or send your text review in email.
Tags:Amigo, and tango makes three, childrens book, Podcast, reviewAmigo, and tango makes three, childrens book, Podcast, review
By: Just One More Book!!,
on 5/3/2007
Author: Jeanette Winter (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Jeanette Winter
Published: 1992 Dragonfly Books
ISBN: 0679819975 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Saturated with colour and emotion, this beautifully illustrated book — like the song that inspired it — opens young eyes to the value of freedom and the price some pay to achieve it. Fact or fiction, it’s an inspiring read.
“Follow the Drinking Gourd” performed by The Brookfield High School World Voices Choir and Maria Hawkins used with permission of Jeannie Hunter. Learn more about The Brookfield Highschool World Voices Choir on this episode of The Electric Sky Podcast.
Tags:Brookfield Highschool, childrens book, encrypt, Follow the Drinking Gourd, freedom, Jeanette Winter, map, Podcast, review, slavery, song, World Voices ChoirBrookfield Highschool, childrens book, encrypt, Follow the Drinking Gourd, freedom, Jeanette Winter, map, Podcast, review, slavery, song, World Voices Choir
By: Just One More Book!!,
on 4/12/2007
Author: Sheldon Oberman Illustrator: Les Tait Published: Tundra Books ISBN: 0887763863 Chapters.ca Amazon.com Historically accurate illustrations and unusually poetic narrative bring to life the plight of young boy struggling to earn a single dollar and the genuine kindness of Sir Henry Pallatt. Other books about Casa Loma: The Cat and the Wizard Tags:Canada, Casa Loma, childrens book, Les Tait, Podcast, Sheldon Oberman, The White Stone in the Castle Wall, TorontoCanada, Casa Loma, childrens book, Les Tait, Podcast, Sheldon Oberman, The White Stone in the Castle Wall, Toronto
By: Just One More Book!!,
on 3/29/2007
Author: Valerie Coulman
Illustrator: Rogé Girard
Published: 2003 Lobster Press
ISBN: 1894222792 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Warm, curvy, character-filled acrylic paintings and a dependable, spunky refrain make this tale of optimism and determination a delight for eyes and spirit alike.
Other books mentioned: Tudley Didn’t Know
By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea,
on 3/15/2007
Author: Geoff Butler
Illustrator: Geoff Butler
Published: 1998 Tundra Books
ISBN: 0613094581 Amazon.ca Amazon.com
Hauntingly rich oil paintings and candid, thought provoking narrative tell a heartbreaking and historically significant tale that provides a glimpse of the tragedies that have shaped the Newfoundland character.
Other books mentioned: Grayboy
By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea ,
on 2/28/2007
Author: Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel
Illustrator: Janet Stevens
Published: 2001 Harcourt Children’s Books
ISBN: 0152022988 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Colourful characters, corny humour and a considerable amount of complaining have made this collision of nursery rhymes a favourite adventure at our house.
Tags:And the DISH Ran Away with the SPOON, childrens book, Janet Stevens, Podcast, review, Susan Stevens CrummelAnd the DISH Ran Away with the SPOON, childrens book, Janet Stevens, Podcast, review, Susan Stevens Crummel
By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea ,
on 2/7/2007
Author: Rachna Gilmore
Illustrator: Alice Priestley
Published: 2003 Tilbury House Publishers
Original publisher: Second Story Press
ISBN: 0884481514 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
This carefully crafted tale of homesickness and hope combines the universal experience of long-awaited plans foiled by weather with the grief of a young girl pining for her far off home. This book leaves us with the powerful insight that its up to each of us to fill our darkness with light.
Other books mentioned:
Tags:Alice Priestley, childrens book, Divali, inner strength, Lights for Gita, Podcast, Rachna GilmoreAlice Priestley, childrens book, Divali, inner strength, Lights for Gita, Podcast, Rachna Gilmore
By: Just One More Book!!,
on 1/30/2007
Author: Jimmy Liao
Illustrator: Jimmy Liao
Published: 2006 Little Brown and Company
ISBN: 0316939927 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Captivatingly colourful and creative illustrations combine with dreamy inner dialogue to carry us along on a journey of reflection, isolation, loss and hope. This book envelopes our whole family and sweeps us away.
Blog post mentioned: Alvina of Blue Rose Girls tells us about the aquisition of this book.
Tags:blindness, childrens book, Jimmy Liao, Sound of Colorsblindness, childrens book, Jimmy Liao, Sound of Colors
By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea,
on 1/28/2007
Mark speaks with author and illustrator Marla Frazee about remembering our accomplishments, illustrating Woodie Guthrie songs and the story behind the one-size-fits-all motivational picture book Walk On!: A Guide For Babies of All Ages.
Participate in the conversation by leaving a comment on this interview, or send an email to [email protected].
photo: http://www.harcourtbooks.com/SantaClaus/interview.asp
Tags:childrens books, Marla Frazee, Walk Onchildrens books, Marla Frazee, Walk On
By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea ,
on 12/1/2006
Author: Dayal Kaur Khalsa
Illustrator: Dayal Kaur Khalsa
Published: 1994 Tundra
ISBN: 088776326X Chapters.ca Amazon.com
You can’t always get what you want, but if you try, try, try again you might enjoy yourself anyway. In a quiet explosion of colour, character and creativity, this book tells us how.
Links mentioned:
By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea ,
on 11/28/2006
Author: Margaret Shannon
Illustrator: Margaret Shannon
Published: 2006 Houghton Mifflin Canda Ltd
ISBN: 0618737448 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Brimming with mystique and echoes of Sendak, this fresh fairy tale subtly, yet powerfully, casts light on the costs of safety and the value of freedom. Our whole family is entranced by this fabulous book.
Tags:ages4+, assertiveness, book, captivity, children, confidence, courage, creativity, defiance, fairy tale, freedom, friendship, peace, podcast, resilience, resistance, review, safety, wolfages4+, assertiveness, book, captivity, children, confidence, courage, creativity, defiance, fairy tale, freedom, friendship, peace, podcast, resilience, resistance, review, safety, wolf
By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea ,
on 11/3/2006
Author: Jane Cutler
Illustrator: Greg Couch
Published: 2004 Penguin USA
ISBN: 0142401749 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
This straightforward story of hardship and hope reminds us that war may not deter human weakness but neither can it deter human strength.
Tags:ages4 8, book, bullying, cello, community, courage, forgiveness, formal, generosity, girl, gratitude, hardship, harmony, hope, kidlit, man, music, peace, perseverence, picture, podcast, resilience, respect, review, tolerance, warages4 8, book, bullying, cello, community, courage, forgiveness, formal, generosity, girl, gratitude, hardship, harmony, hope, kidlit, man, music, peace, perseverence, picture, podcast, resilience, respect, review, tolerance, war
By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea ,
on 10/27/2006
Author: Pat Hutchins
Illustrator: Pat Hutchins
Published: 1988 Harper Collins Canada
ISBN: 0688078168 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
This simple story of sibling rivalry has been almost an addiction for our younger daughter for as long as we can remember. Fun, monstery illustrations, simple repetitive text and a fair bit of mischief may be the reason.
Tags:ages0 3, ages4 8, book, children, cute, detailed, family, fun, literacy, literature, love, monster, perseverence, picture, podcast, resilience, review, rivalry, sibling, toleranceages0 3, ages4 8, book, children, cute, detailed, family, fun, literacy, literature, love, monster, perseverence, picture, podcast, resilience, review, rivalry, sibling, tolerance
By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea ,
on 10/16/2006
Author: Gavin Curtis
Illustrator: E. B. Lewis
Published: 2001 Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
ISBN: 0689841159 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
In this touching tale, a frustrated and distant father comes to see his son through new eyes. Mark loves this one.
Tags:acceptance, ages4 8, appreciation, baseball, book, boy, children, compassion, confidence, family, father, forgiveness, music, patience, perseverence, picture, podcast, resilience, reunion, review, son, sports, tolerance, violinacceptance, ages4 8, appreciation, baseball, book, boy, children, compassion, confidence, family, father, forgiveness, music, patience, perseverence, picture, podcast, resilience, reunion, review, son, sports, tolerance, violin
Posted on 9/13/2006
Illustrator: Stephen Pileggi
Published: 1977 Value Communications
ISBN: 0916392066 Amazon
With cartoony illustrations and stripped down stories the ValueTales Series of books use imaginitive devices to introduce young readers to historical figures and the personal attributes that helped them make a difference in their worlds.
If you are curious about the fate of the ValueTales, you can listen to an interesting interview about an attempt to revive these books on�Mark’s ElectricSky podcast.
[…] Don’t Need Friends (Carolyn Crimi Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger; 1999 Random House) […]